Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every purpose under heaven.
Alt har sin stund og hver en Ting under Himmelen sin Tid:
2 There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
Tid til at fødes og Tid til at dø, Tid til at plante og Tid til at rydde,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up.
Tid til at dræbe og Tid til at læge, Tid til at nedrive og Tid til at opbygge,
4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Tid til at græde og Tid til at le, Tid til at sørge og Tid til at danse,
5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.
Tid til at kaste Sten, og Tid til at sanke Sten, Tid til at favne og Tid til ikke at favne,
6 There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
Tid til at søge og Tid til at miste, Tid til at gemme og Tid til at bortkaste,
7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing, a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
Tid til at flænge og Tid til at sy, Tid til at tie og Tid til at tale,
8 There is a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Tid til at elske og Tid til at hade, Tid til Krig og Tid til Fred.
9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
Hvad Løn for sin Flid har da den, der arbejder?
10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
Jeg så det Slid, som Gud har givet Menneskens Børn at slide med.
11 God has made everything suitable for its own time. He has also placed eternity in their hearts. But mankind cannot understand the deeds that God has done, from their beginning all the way to their end.
Alt har han skabt smukt til rette Tid; også Evigheden har han lagt i deres Hjerte, dog således at Menneskene hverken fatter det første eller det sidste af, hvad Gud har virket.
12 I know that there is nothing better for anyone than to rejoice and to do good so long as he lives—
Jeg skønnede, at der ikke gives noget andet Gode for dem end at glæde sig og have det godt, sålænge de lever.
13 and that everyone should eat and drink, and should understand how to enjoy the good that comes from all his work. This is a gift from God.
Dog også det at spise og drikke og nyde det gode under al sin Flid er for hvert Menneske en Guds Gave.
14 I know that whatever God does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.
Jeg skønnede, at alt, hvad Gud virker, bliver evindelig, uden at noget kan føjes til eller tages fra; og således har Gud gjort det, for at man skal frygte for hans Åsyn.
15 Whatever exists has already existed; whatever will exist has already existed. God makes human beings seek hidden things.
Hvad der sker, var allerede, og hvad der skal ske, har allerede været; Gud leder det svundne op.
16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
Fremdeles så jeg under Solen, at Gudløshed var på Rettens Sted og Gudløshed på Retfærds Sted.
17 I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed.”
Jeg sagde ved mig selv: "Den retfærdige og den gudløse dømmer Gud; thi for hver en Ting og hver en Idræt har han fastsat en Tid.
18 I said in my heart, “God tests human beings to show them that they are like animals.”
Jeg sagde ved mig selv: "Det er for Menneskenes Skyld, for at Gud kan prøve dem, og for at de selv kan se, at de er Dyr:"
19 For the fate of the children of mankind and the fate of animals is the same fate for them. The death of one is like the death of the other. The breath is the same for all of them. There is no advantage for mankind over the animals. For is not everything just a breath?
Thi Menneskers og Dyrs Skæbne er ens; som den ene dør, dør den anden, og en og samme Ånd har de alle; Mennesket har intet forud for Dyrene, thi alt er Tomhed.
20 Everything is going to the same place. Everything comes from the dust, and everything returns to the dust.
Alle går sammesteds hen, alle blev til af Muld, og alle vender tilbage til Mulden.
21 Who knows whether the spirit of mankind goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into the earth?
Hvo ved, om Menneskenes Ånd stiger opad, og om Dyrenes Ånd farer nedad til Jorden?
22 So again I realized that there is nothing better for anyone than to take pleasure in his work, for that is his assignment. Who can bring him back to see what happens after him?
Således indså jeg, at intet er bedre for Mennesket end at glæde sig ved sin Gerning, thi det er hans Del; thi hvo kan bringe ham så vidt, at han kan se, hvad der kommer efter hans Død?
